History @en

  ESAU’S RETURN FROM THE HUNT – MOSIAC DATABLE TO 1174-1182 – CATHEDRAL, MONREALE The Byzantine tradition is still vivacious in this beautiful example of a tunic with embroidered and jeweled sleeves, even if knee-length to facilitate the hunter’s actions:  tight pants; crural bands on the udones or tibials covering …

  SAN  LORENZO CON  I TIBURTINI–  TIBURTINO SUMMARY CODE FIRST HALF OF THE 12th CENTURY – VATICAN ARCHIVES   Next to the hieratic figure of St. Lorenzo, depicted in a jeweled dalmatic, the inhabitants of Tivoli, in a tight group, give the impression of a lively realism in their short …

  ARK OF THE THREE SAINTS (DETAIL) – EARLY XII CENTURY – CHURCH OF SAINT ZENO, VERONA   The scholar’s tunic reaches all the way to the feet and is enriched with dense pleating. The mantel opens in the front. Perhaps the long hair is mannered, however the droopy moustache …

  CITIZENS OF MILAN RETURNING TO MILAN AFTER THE DESTRUCTION BY BARBAROSSA – BAS-RELIEF ON THE ARCHWAY OF PORTA ROMANA – YEAR 1171 – CITY MUSEUM, MILAN   The naïve coarseness of the figurative elements perfectly represents masculine apparel in the XII century in its every detail: short hair parted …

  THE BRIDE AND GROOM – BAS-RELIEF IN THE PULPIT LUNETTE – DATING APPROXIMATELY TO 1120 – BASILICA OF SAINT AMBROSE, MILAN  A soft touch of human warmth brings to life the figures of the spouses intertwined in each other’s arms.  Lay masculine apparel of the time differs from the …